Toronto Public Health (TPH) is promoting its new alcohol awareness campaign "Number and Size Matter" at the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo this weekend (November 15 to 18). TPH’s campaign focuses on education about Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines.

“Our new campaign is another tool to help residents of Toronto make informed decisions about consuming alcohol," said Jann Houston, TPH’s Director of Healthy Communities. “If you are going to drink, these recommendations will help you to make healthier choices and reduce your long-term health risks associated with alcohol.”

In the last year, the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, on behalf of the National Alcohol Strategy Advisory Committee, revised the drinking guidelines with the goal of reducing risk of alcohol-related injuries and chronic health conditions. The guidelines recommend the maximum number and size of alcoholic beverages that a healthy individual of legal drinking age could choose to consume.

According to the guidelines:
● Healthy women should drink no more than two standard drinks a day and no more than 10 a week.
● Healthy men should consume no more than three standard drinks a day and no more than 15 a week.
● People should plan for non-drinking days every week.

According to Statistics Canada, the per capita consumption of alcohol in Canada has risen by 14 per cent since 1996. Research has shown that the amount of alcohol consumed is related to the risk of developing many diseases such as cancers, hypertension, epilepsy, stroke and liver cirrhosis.

Toronto Public Health is also running a "Think Before You Drink" contest now through the end of 2012. It's aimed at educating adults who choose to consume alcohol about the drinking guidelines. The contest includes a short, online quiz and a chance to win a movie pass. More information about the contest is available at http://fluidsurveys.com/surveys/meg-Z/lradg/.

More information about TPH’s campaign and the drinking guidelines is available at www.toronto.ca/health/alcoholdrugs.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.7 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.